By: Sulayman Waan
The National Youth Council (NYC) in partnership with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung has concluded two- day National Stakeholders forum on migration aims at discussing on the current situation and challenges of migration management; held at NaNA conference hall on June 14-15 respectively.
This forum also means to discuss on the status of Gambian migrants in Germany, bringing the mechanism to reintegrate assistance to returning migrants and deportees in the country as well to talk on migration management and implementation of migration policy at regional level among other matters.
Addressing the participants, Hadrammeh Sidibeh, minister of Youth and Sports described the forum as significant, saying migration is a concern of all governments, international agencies, private sector, women and youth.
He revealed that Gambia as one of the smallest country in Africa has about 140,000 (7%) migrants who mostly based in Italy, Germany, USA, Spain, United Kingdom, Sweden and Senegal.
“The Previous hostile political environment and the pursuit for socio economic advancement, especially among the youth has driven many to undertake irregular migration for in search of greener pasture in Europe and other parts of the world,” he said.
“This has lost the country many intelligent and smart young people to Europe and other parts of Africa,” he added.
He said the government is aware of the dynamic migration syndrome and its challenges, adding this motivated government to support the Gambia Songhai Initiative and National Service Scheme to provide marketable skills for the youth to earn a living.
Representing the Interior Minister, Alhagie Ceesay, deputy permanent secretary at the Interior ministry said the forum is timely in ensuring stakeholders engage one another on migration management, to understand the pressing youth’s needs and bringing key recommendations and strategies to support them (youth) by sensitizing them on irregular migration and to facilitate sustainable reintegration of returnees.
“The trend of irregular migration has affected both countries of origin and destination; therefore, to address that, we need the support and cooperation of all stakeholders, development and bilateral partners,” he noted.
“However, there is need for stakeholders to effectively engage partners such as German and the diaspora in the socio- economic development of the country through the transfers of skills and financial to address this irregular migration.”
“At this critical moment, we need to manage the situation and bring solutions to address the negative impacts of migration but youth who have already migrated government need to work with bilateral partners to create modalities to reduce uncertainties and find mutual benefiting solutions,” said.
He recommended government to embed a network with the diaspora so as to secure effective communication and exchange of ideas between migrants and their host countries to ensure they contribute on economic, social and political of their host countries.
SirFek Lawren, German Lawmaker said about 16,000 Gambians living in Germany, saying many of these Gambians are undocumented and some of them are engage in criminal activities and increases the pressure on the German Government.
“We have a new legislation that deal with returning of irregular migrants in German and on the other hand offers opportunities to other young people who will be trained and work specifically to the health sector,” Lawrence also a committee of Interior and Education said.